Advice on using copper/brass pipe work in filter

[Axolotl]

Does anybody have anything to say on the subject of copper/brass fittings
when building your own bio/mechanical filter system?

I have just built a small filter system for my new pond (2600 gal), and
have studiously avoided using any metal fittings, but I am not very happy
with the impedance that the plastic fittings introduce into the water
flow. In addition the range of fittings available in plastic is not as
great as that available in brass.

Everything I have read here to date seems to indicate that I should avoid
using metal in fishponds.

Any advice would be most welcome.
ANO

[Sam Hopkins]

I say try it. At least then we'll all know for sure. =)

Sam

"Axolotl" > wrote in message
30...
> Does anybody have anything to say on the subject of copper/brass fittings
> when building your own bio/mechanical filter system?
>
> I have just built a small filter system for my new pond (2600 gal), and
> have studiously avoided using any metal fittings, but I am not very happy
> with the impedance that the plastic fittings introduce into the water
> flow. In addition the range of fittings available in plastic is not as
> great as that available in brass.
>
> Everything I have read here to date seems to indicate that I should avoid
> using metal in fishponds.
>
> Any advice would be most welcome.
> ANO
>

[Iain Miller]

"Axolotl" > wrote in message
30...
> Does anybody have anything to say on the subject of copper/brass fittings
> when building your own bio/mechanical filter system?
>
> I have just built a small filter system for my new pond (2600 gal), and
> have studiously avoided using any metal fittings, but I am not very happy
> with the impedance that the plastic fittings introduce into the water
> flow. In addition the range of fittings available in plastic is not as
> great as that available in brass.
>
> Everything I have read here to date seems to indicate that I should avoid
> using metal in fishponds.

Everything you've read is right - avoid all metals (Copper and Brass
especially)

I.

[Lee Brouillet]

I used "sweeps" instead of right angles to avoid "impedance" problems.
They're supposedly for sewage plumbing and not for "high" pressure, but the
pressure in our water lines don't exceed the limits. Just make sure that
they're primed and glued. For a couple of squirrely twists, I used flexible
pipe (which really isn't all THAT flexible, but better than regular pipe).
If you heat it up with hot water, it will bend a little easier.

NO METAL PIPING. So far, everyone has mentioned corrosion problems but the
biggest deterent *I* see is in meds: you'll poison your fish with the
interreactions.

Lee

"Axolotl" > wrote in message
30...
> Does anybody have anything to say on the subject of copper/brass fittings
> when building your own bio/mechanical filter system?
>
> I have just built a small filter system for my new pond (2600 gal), and
> have studiously avoided using any metal fittings, but I am not very happy
> with the impedance that the plastic fittings introduce into the water
> flow. In addition the range of fittings available in plastic is not as
> great as that available in brass.
>
> Everything I have read here to date seems to indicate that I should avoid
> using metal in fishponds.
>
> Any advice would be most welcome.
> ANO
>

[Joan Swinkels]

PVC pipe can be bent to form nice long bends. There is a good article at:
http://cnets.net/~eclectic/woodworking/pvc.html on the technique. I used the
kitchen oven (with the vent fan runing), set to 275 to heat some pieces that
I made for my filter.

-- Mark

"Lee Brouillet" > wrote in message
...
> I used "sweeps" instead of right angles to avoid "impedance" problems.
> They're supposedly for sewage plumbing and not for "high" pressure, but
the
> pressure in our water lines don't exceed the limits. Just make sure that
> they're primed and glued. For a couple of squirrely twists, I used
flexible
> pipe (which really isn't all THAT flexible, but better than regular pipe).
> If you heat it up with hot water, it will bend a little easier.
>
> NO METAL PIPING. So far, everyone has mentioned corrosion problems but the
> biggest deterent *I* see is in meds: you'll poison your fish with the
> interreactions.
>
> Lee
>
> "Axolotl" > wrote in message
> 30...
> > Does anybody have anything to say on the subject of copper/brass
fittings
> > when building your own bio/mechanical filter system?
> >
> > I have just built a small filter system for my new pond (2600 gal), and
> > have studiously avoided using any metal fittings, but I am not very
happy
> > with the impedance that the plastic fittings introduce into the water
> > flow. In addition the range of fittings available in plastic is not as
> > great as that available in brass.
> >
> > Everything I have read here to date seems to indicate that I should
avoid
> > using metal in fishponds.
> >
> > Any advice would be most welcome.
> > ANO
> >
>
>